Combination toy and tent

ABSTRACT

A combination toy and tent includes a toy having a body portion defining therein a cavity, and a head portion coupled to the body portion. The head portion and the body portion together represent a character. A tent is transformable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, the tent being positionable within the cavity in the body portion when in the folded configuration.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/092,971 filed Oct. 16, 2020, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to children's toys, including stuffed animals and tents.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a combination toy and tent that includes a toy having a body portion defining therein a cavity, and a head portion coupled to the body portion. The head portion and the body portion together represent a character. A tent is transformable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, the tent being positionable within the cavity in the body portion when in the folded configuration.

Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a combination toy and tent according to the disclosure, with the tent housed within the toy.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the combination toy and tent of FIG. 1 showing the opening to a cavity in which the tent is housed, the tent being in its folded configuration.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the combination toy and tent of FIG. 1 showing the tent in its unfolded configuration and the toy placed partially within the interior space of the tent.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the combination toy and tent of FIG. 1 showing the tent in its unfolded configuration and a child kneeling partially within the interior space of the tent.

FIG. 5 is a front view of another combination toy and tent with a firefighter theme.

FIG. 6 is a front view of another combination toy and tent with a healthcare theme.

FIG. 7 is a front view of another combination toy and tent with a police officer theme.

FIG. 8 is a front view of another combination toy and tent with an optional tunnel accessory that can be used with the tent.

FIG. 9 illustrates another combination toy and tent with an optional tunnel accessory connecting two tents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment of a combination toy and tent 10. The combination toy and tent 10 includes a toy 14, which in the illustrated embodiment is a plush toy in the form of a unicorn. The materials used to form the toy 14 may be any suitable materials including plush fabric, knit fabric, woven fabric, plastic, rubber, or any other suitable material for use as a toy. The illustrated toy includes a body portion 18 and a head portion 22 coupled to the body portion 18. Together, the body portion 18 and head portion 22 can define a character such as the illustrated unicorn. Other characters can include, for example, commonly known movie or television characters, animated characters, animals, humans, inanimate objects, fantasy creatures or characters, historical characters, characters from books or other sources, or other articles, whether real or imagined.

The illustrated head portion 22 includes indicia representing a face 26 (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) of the character as well as appendages 30 representing associated features of the character, such as ears, horns, and hair. In other embodiments, other appendages could represent hats, fins, antennae, or other features that might be present on the head of an animal or other creature.

The head portion 22 is coupled to one end of the body portion 18. It can be stitched, fastened, or otherwise permanently or removably connected to the body portion 18. The illustrated body portion 18 has a generally oblong or oval shape (see FIG. 8) with an underside or belly and a top side or back. The body portion 18 can include coloring or features that conform to the coloring and features of the head portion 22. The body portion 18 can also include appendages 34 representing features of the character, such as arms, legs, tails, hooves, and the like. In other embodiments, other appendages could represent feet, paws, fins, wings, or other features that might be present on the body of an animal or other creature.

Referring to FIG. 2, the body portion 18 defines therein a cavity 38 sized and configured to house or store a tent 42 when the tent 42 is in its first or folded configuration as shown in FIG. 2. The body portion 18 includes an opening 46 that can be selectively opened or closed to permit or prohibit access to the cavity 38. A fastener 50 can be used to secure the opening 46 in its closed state. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 50 takes the form of a zipper 54 extending along a portion of the periphery of the body portion 18. As illustrated, the zipper 54 is positioned along the rear periphery of the body portion 18, opposite to the head portion 22, and essentially delineates the underside or belly from the top side or back at the rear end of the body portion 18. Therefore, the face 26 of the toy 14 faces in a direction away from or opposite to the opening 46. When the zipper 54 is opened, the opening 46 may extend substantially the entire width of the body portion 18 to maximize the size of the opening into the cavity 38 for easy insertion or removal of the folded tent 42. The tent 42 is therefore inserted into the cavity 38 from the rear of the toy 14 in a direction toward the head portion 22. Conversely, the tent 42 is removed from the cavity 38 in a direction away from the head portion 22. The cavity 38 can be lined with a liner material 58 different from the plush or outer material of the body portion 18. The liner material 58 may be a durable material that facilitates smooth and easy sliding of the tent 42 into and out of the cavity 38. In other embodiments, different fasteners 50 can be used to close and secure the opening 46, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, and the like.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the combination toy and tent 10 with the tent 42 removed from the cavity 38 in the toy 14 and in its unfolded or expanded configuration. With the tent 42 removed from within the toy 14, the zipper 54 can be closed to close the opening 46 into the cavity 38. Of course, a child may wish to place other items or toys in the cavity 38 during play. The tent 42 is configured in a known manner that is biased toward the unfolded configuration due to the flexible and resilient frame members 62 that provide the structural support to maintain the tent 42 in this upright configuration for play. A child need only bend or flex the frame members 62 to collapse the tent 42 to the collapsed or folded configuration, where it can then be inserted into the cavity 38 through the opening 46 for storage. The folded tent 42 can provide an added level of rigidity to the body portion 18 when installed in the cavity 38, thereby giving the body portion 18 a skeleton-type, outwardly biased interior supporting structure. In other words, when folded and placed inside the cavity 38 of the toy 14, the collapsed tent 42 can facilitate maintaining the body portion 18 in its oblong or oval shape and positioning of the body portion 18 relative to the coupled head portion 22. Conversely, when the tent 42 is removed from the cavity 38, the body portion 18 may be less rigid and therefore more flexible for manipulation and play by a child.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the unfolded tent 42 includes a plurality of wall portions 66 supported by the frame members 62. The illustrated tent 42 includes one wall portion 66 that defines a door or entrance. An opening 70 is formed in the wall portion and a flap 74 can be opened or closed to respectively open or close the opening 70. One or more additional wall portions may include a translucent or transparent panel 78 to define a window. Together the wall portions 66 define an interior space 82 of the tent 42. The interior space 82 is at least large enough to house the entire toy 14 therein, and in the illustrated embodiment, is at least large enough to accommodate a child 86 therein. In this manner, the child 86 can play inside the tent 42 with the toy 14.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the illustrated wall portions 66 can be colored and/or decorated to conform to the toy 14. For example, the wall portions 66 are colored the same color as the toy 14 (e.g., the same color as the body portion 18), and/or can include indicia 90 (e.g., stars) that can match indicia or themes of the toy 14. FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment in which the indicia 90 on the tent is indicative of a fire department and corresponds to a toy 14 themed as a dog (e.g., a dalmatian) dressed as a firefighter. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the indicia 90 on the tent is indictive of a hospital and corresponds to a toy 14 themed as a dog dressed as a healthcare worker. FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which the indicia 90 on the tent is indicative of a police department and corresponds to a toy 14 themed as a dog dressed as a police officer.

FIG. 8 illustrates a tunnel accessory 94 configured to be used with the combination toy and tent 10. One end of the tunnel accessory 94 can be positioned into or adjacent the tent opening 70 so that access into the interior space 82 of the tent 42 must be had through the tunnel accessory 94. FIG. 9 illustrates another option in which the tents 42 may each have another opening 98, which optionally can be in the wall portion 66 opposite the opening 70, to which the tunnel accessory 94 can be coupled. This arrangement keeps the opening 70 accessible for entry into or exit from the tent 42. In some embodiments, the tunnel accessory 94 can be collapsible so that it can be stored within the cavity 38 along with the collapsed tent 42.

Various aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination toy and tent, the combination comprising: a toy having a body portion defining therein a cavity, and a head portion coupled to the body portion, the head portion and the body portion together representing a character; and a tent transformable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, the tent being positionable within the cavity in the body portion when in the folded configuration.
 2. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the toy is a plush toy.
 3. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the body portion has an opening communicating with the cavity, the opening being selectively opened or closed via a fastener.
 4. The combination toy and tent of claim 3, wherein the fastener is a zipper, or a hook and loop fastener, or a plurality of snaps.
 5. The combination toy and tent of claim 3, wherein the opening is at an end of the body portion opposite the head portion.
 6. The combination toy and tent of claim 3, wherein the head portion includes a face that faces in an opposite direction from the opening.
 7. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent is insertable into the cavity in a direction toward the head portion and is removable from the cavity in a direction away from the head portion.
 8. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent in the unfolded configuration defines an interior space large enough to house the entire toy.
 9. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent in the unfolded configuration defines an interior space large enough to accommodate a child therein.
 10. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent in the unfolded configuration includes a wall portion having a color that is a same color as at least a portion of the body portion of the toy.
 11. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent in the unfolded configuration includes a wall portion having indicia corresponding to a theme of the toy.
 12. The combination toy and tent of claim 11, wherein the indicia on the wall portion of the tent includes a hospital sign, and wherein the theme of toy is that of a healthcare worker.
 13. The combination toy and tent of claim 11, wherein the indicia on the wall portion of the tent includes a police sign, and wherein the theme of toy is that of a police officer.
 14. The combination toy and tent of claim 11, wherein the indicia on the wall portion of the tent includes a fire department sign, and wherein the theme of toy is that of a firefighter.
 15. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein when the tent is positioned in the cavity in the body portion, the tent is configured to provide rigidity to the body portion.
 16. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, further comprising a tunnel accessory configured to fit into an opening of the tent when the tent is in the unfolded configuration.
 17. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, further comprising a tunnel accessory connected to an opening of the tent when the tent is in the unfolded configuration.
 18. A combination toy and tent, the combination comprising: a plush toy having a body portion defining therein a cavity, and a head portion coupled to the body portion, the head portion and the body portion together representing a character; and a tent transformable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, the tent being positionable within the cavity in the body portion when in the folded configuration; wherein the body portion has an opening communicating with the cavity, the opening being selectively opened or closed via a fastener; wherein the opening is at an end of the body portion opposite the head portion; and wherein the tent is insertable into the cavity in a direction toward the head portion and is removable from the cavity in a direction away from the head portion.
 19. The combination toy and tent of claim 18, further comprising a tunnel accessory configured to communicate with an opening of the tent when the tent is in the unfolded configuration.
 20. The combination toy and tent of claim 18, wherein the fastener is a zipper. 